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Industry 4.0: Leading the Transformation

Industrial revolutions are momentous events, and many historians agree that there have been three to date. Interconnected digital technology might be triggering the fourth revolution, and this article explores the actions that printers should take to remain at the forefront of Industry 4.0.

Thursday, June 15, 2017

We are hearing a lot of buzz about the next industrial revolution—Industry 4.0. Industrial revolutions are momentous events, and many historians agree that there have been three to date. The ?rst was triggered in the 1700s by the commercial steam engine, which mechanized much of the work that our ancestors were forced to do by hand. Electricity drove the second revolution at the beginning of the 20th Century, leading to the birth of mass production. The third industry era came about with the introduction of computers after World War II. A number of strategists now believe that we are at the forefront of the fourth industrial revolution, which is being driven by interconnected digital technology.

The term Industry 4.0 refers to the combination of several major innovations in digital technology, all coming to maturity simultaneously and poised to transform critical manufacturing sectors. The printing industry will be significantly impacted by the digitization of the manufacturing sector, which is being fueled by a number of factors:

What’s a Printer to Do?


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About Barb Pellow

A digital printing and publishing pioneer, marketing expert and Group Director at InfoTrends, Barbara Pellow helps companies develop multi-media strategies that ride the information wave. Barb brings the knowledge and skills to help companies expand and grow business opportunity.

Please offer your feedback to Barb. She can be reached at [email protected].

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